Abstract

Background

Relatively little is known about interest in pediatric pulmonology among pediatric
residents. The purpose of this study, therefore, was to determine at this institution:
1) the level of pediatric resident interest in pursuing a pulmonary fellowship, 2)
potential factors involved in development of such interest, 3) whether the presence
of a pulmonary fellowship program affects such interest.

Methods

A questionnaire was distributed to all 52 pediatric residents at this institution
in 1992 and to all 59 pediatric residents and 14 combined internal medicine/pediatrics
residents in 2002, following development of a pulmonary fellowship program.

Results

Response rates were 79% in 1992 and 86% in 2002. Eight of the 43 responders in 1992
(19%) had considered doing a pulmonary fellowship compared to 7 of 63 (11%) in 2002.
The highest ranked factors given by the residents who had considered a fellowship
included wanting to continue one's education after residency, enjoying caring for
pulmonary patients, and liking pulmonary physiology and the pulmonary faculty. Major
factors listed by residents who had not considered a pulmonary fellowship included
not enjoying the tracheostomy/ventilator population and chronic pulmonary patients
in general, and a desire to enter general pediatrics or another fellowship. Most residents
during both survey periods believed that they would be in non-academic or academic
general pediatrics in 5 years. Only 1 of the 106 responding residents (~1%) anticipated
becoming a pediatric pulmonologist.

Conclusions

Although many pediatric residents consider enrolling in a pulmonary fellowship (~10–20%
here), few (~1% here) will actually pursue a career in pediatric pulmonology. The
presence of a pulmonary fellowship program did not significantly alter resident interest,
though other confounding factors may be involved.